Overview

Paul on Homosexuality unveils Paul’s view of homosexuality in light of the first-century environment in which his letters were written. For example, the book documents that the Jewish nation separated the commandments of their law into two groups: Justices and Jobs.

The Justices were all the commandments based on the precept, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Jobs were all the rest.

JUSTICES

JOBS

Do not murder

Do not eat shellfish

Do not steal

Do not wear garments made out of two fabrics

Do not lie

Men with genital injuries cannot enter the congregation

Do not rape

Do not engage in homosexual intercourse

Do not commit adultery

Do not have sex with your wife during her menstrual cycle

Paul wrote that only the Justice are part of Jesus’ Law (Romans 13.8-9). This is why he wrote that the Jobs (“works of the law”) don’t exonerate anyone before God (Romans 3.20, 28). In the historical setting in which Paul wrote these words, he very specifically stated that none of the Jobs are required by Jesus’ Law—including keeping the Levitical prohibition on homosexuality.